UPDATE: Blue Lakes big rig crash kills one, sends two to hospital

BLUE LAKES -- A pair of big rigs collided on Highway 20 northwest of Upper Lake early Wednesday morning, killing one driver, injuring two other people and sending one semi-truck into Blue Lakes.

The decedent was reportedly the driver of the semi-truck that landed in the water.

A 15-year-old boy riding in water-bound big rig was trapped in the partially submerged cab after the crash, according to the CHP. It took emergency personnel about 50 minutes to safely remove the teenager, who was airlifted to the University of California, Davis Medical Center with major hypothermia.

"This is one of the most intense rescues," Northshore Fire Protection District (NFPD) battalion chief Pat Brown said.

The incident started when a westbound milk truck driven by Donald Morpon lost control on a curve east of The Lodge at Blue Lakes, causing the trailer to overturn and enter the eastbound lane just before 6 a.m., the CHP reported.

The driver of an eastbound semi-truck could not avoid the overturned trailer, according to the CHP. The big rig struck the milk truck, careened down a steep embankment and landed in Blue Lakes.

The driver of the eastbound big rig was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. This was Lake County's seventh fatal crash of the year.

Morpon, a Cotati resident, was airlifted to an out-of-county hospital with major injuries, according to the CHP.

The effort to remove the teenager from the partially submerged cab included water-rescue, rope-rescue and dive teams, Brown said. Officials had to use the Jaws of Life underwater, a rare occurrence, according to the battalion chief.

The wreck sent diesel fuel into Blue Lakes, Brown said. NFPD personnel contained the spill with 800 feet of boom. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Lake County Environmental Health Department also assisted.

Spilled milk covered the highway and entered the water.

Highway 20 was closed in both directions Wednesday morning. Officials estimated the highway could open at noon with one-way traffic control in effect. The roadway is expected to fully reopen by 2 p.m.

Editor's note: Nathan DeHart also contributed to the reporting of this story.